390 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
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Chŏng Namjin^79 and others arrived in Samch’ŏk and conveyed the king’s
message to Prince Kongyang: “Since officials and the people recommended
that I be elevated to the throne, my fortune is the one that can be granted
only by Heaven. I allowed you to live in Kwandong [Kangwŏn Province]
and other members of your family to settle in different parts of the country
according to their convenience. However, it happened that Kim Kahaeng,
magistrate of Tongnae, Pak Chungjil, director of the Saltern Office, and
others conspired to commit treason against me. So they visited a blind
fortune- teller, Yi Hŭngmu, and asked him about your fortune as well as the
fortunes of your family members. When the incident was discovered, those
involved in the plot were seized and executed. You may have been unaware
of what happened, but the censors and other officials in charge of the law
submitted no fewer than twelve joint memorials insisting that you and your
family be brought to justice. Now all the officials, both high and low, have
joined them in submitting memorials. So I have had no choice but to grant
their request. I want you to know this fully.” Then the king had Kongyang
strangled to death along with his two sons.19th Day (Muja)
The king ordered the officials of the Office of Royal Decrees, the National
Academy, and the Publications Office to report on ways to make the nation
rich and powerful and to produce strategies to deal with crises after
reviewing the classics and records throughout history.20th Day (Kichíuk)
Son Hŭngjong and others threw the members of the Wang Clan on Kŏje
Island into the sea and had them drowned.served as pacification commissioner of Cheju, he successfully requested the government to
stop the requirement that Cheju residents present dried mare meat, produced locally, as their
annual tribute.- Chŏng Namjin (?–1410): a military official of late Koryŏ and early Chosŏn. He is best
remembered for carrying out the execution of King Kongyang when he served as deputy
director of the Security Council. He also visited Ming China but caused controversy because
of his private trading during his diplomatic mission.